Friday, September 8 2006 14:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dehradun: After deciding to make a big issue out of the row over Vande Mataram, BJP's top brass is working out a strategy to woo middle and lower middle class ahead of Assembly elections in several states, including Uttar Pradesh, by taking up the issue of price rise.

With much at stake for the saffron party in the upcoming polls, the party top brass is leaving nothing to chance to pick up issues concerning common man in what is seen as a strategy to attack the rule-establish the BJP as an organization with a difference in the backdrop of internal turmoil and one-upmanship by many of his colleagues, the national executive will be chalking out a plan of agitation over price rises when it meets for the second day today.

Singh, in his inaugural address at the executive yesterday (Sept 7, 2006), demanded a white paper on price rise as he accused the ruling UPA of failure in handling economic issues, citing the Government's moves to put on hold disinvestment plans.

The main Opposition party will be coming out with a resolution condeming the UPA's track record on economy and is expected to demand urgent measures to check the price line.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's absence at an event commemorating Vande Mataram has come as a blessing in disguise for the BJP that was groping in the dark to whip up nationalist passions of its core Hindutva constituency.

Gandhi's moves in Delhi have filled new energy into the BJP that was plunged into depression after the events in Jharkhand.

Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh have arrived here to attend the event.

Heavy rains in Dehradun might upset arrival plans of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who is scheduled to address a public meeting today evening in the capital of Uttaranchal, where elections are due early next year along with UP, Manipur, Punjab and Goa.